What is a Nutritionist and why should I trust them?
- ciaralitchfield
- Jun 7, 2017
- 2 min read
The main role of a nutritionist is to help people achieve optimal health by providing information and advice about health and food choices. To become a Nutritionist in the UK you must complete a 3 year full time course that is accredited with the Association of Nutrition. This means the course covers all the information you need to know in order to apply to become an Associate Nutritionist (ANutr).
It’s all too easy for people to read a health an article and a few forums and then feel ready to give out diet advise to others. This however is not the case. Health and Nutrition advice from non-professionals not only means you’re less likely to reach your goals but could lead to serious health problems. Having a Science degree provides Nutritionists with the scientific knowledge needed to make judgments and decisions about an individual’s diet.
What you will study as a Nutrition Student
Year 1 provides the basics for studying nutrition which includes biochemistry, physiology, human nutrition and basic food science, plus general scientific and laboratory skills.
Year 2 examines more-advanced aspects of human biology, including biochemistry, pharmacology, immunology and microbiology. You will consider nutrition at different stages of life and in assessment of health, learning to obtain and interpret food and nutrient intake data.
Year 3 explores more specialised and applied aspects, such as nutrition's role in health and disease. Options include the modules Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, and Health and Exercise Physiology. Your independent nutrition research project will be in a subject of interest (eg public health and clinical nutrition).
Specific Modules
Modules change depending on the university and the presence of optional modules but a typical list may look like this:
Year 1
Human Physiology
Food and Nutrition 1: An Introduction
The Biochemical Foundations of Life
Scientific and Laboratory Skills
Year 2
Proteins and Metabolism
Food and Nutrition 2: Applied Nutrition
Principles of Pharmacology with Research Methods
Infection and Immunity
Year 3
Food and Nutrition 3: Public Health Nutrition
Food and Nutrition 4: Contemporary Issues in Food and Nutrition
Project or Dissertation (Nutrition)
One option module
Is a nutritionist and a dietitian the same thing?
No! Nutritionists and Dietitians often work alongside each other but their roles are different and its important to know them apart. Dietitians help to promote nutritional well-being, treat disease and prevent nutrition related problems. They provide practical, safe advice, based on current scientific evidence. They have more clinical experience than a nutritionist and are able to treat people with disease.
How do I find a Nutritionist?
You can search the register for qualified professionals here:
Association of Nutrition UK: http://www.associationfornutrition.org/default.aspx?tabid=92
Nutrition Society of Australia: http://nsa.asn.au/find-a-registered-nutritionist/
Resources:
https://www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts/WhatIsDietitian.pdf
http://www.kingston.ac.uk/undergraduate-course/nutrition/
